By Kate Thomas For Mailonline
Published: 01:28 EST, 10 August 2014 | Updated: 10:02 EST, 10 August 2014
He was temporarily suspended from The Only Way Is Essex in June following allegations of cocaine use.
And reality star Mario Falcone has now issued a public apology about his supposed drug scandal, several weeks after a video surfaced of a man who looked like the Italian hunk snorting a suspicious line of white power at a friend's house.
He has now told The Sun on Sunday : 'I would like to publicly apologise to my loyal family and friends, all of my co-stars on TOWIE, to ITV and most importantly to all of the fans.
Scroll down for video
Public apology: Mario wants to make amends with the ITV2 producers, his loved ones and his fans
'After a few personal issues, I went off the rails. I have been seeking professional assistance and am now fit and well.'
Mario went on to claim he felt 'genuine remorse' about his actions and to express his hope that TV bosses would allow him to rejoin the cast of the popular show for its thirteenth series this autumn.
The star missed out on the twelfth series of the constructed reality programme while an investigation into the exposé took place.
Looking glum: Mario entertained himself by taking selfies during a train journey earlier this week
Fighting fit: Mario looked happy and healthy at the Essex Drive in Movies party on Friday night
A show spokesperson confirmed to MailOnline earlier this summer: 'Mario will not be taking part in filming in Marbella while this matter is looked into.'
The footage is said to have been secretly recorded following a night out in Essex.
A grainy still taken from the film and printed by The Sun showed a man hunched over a work surface while appearing to snort white powder through a rolled up bank note.
Positive thinking: Mario is hoping he can help others overcome their struggles with depression
Mario's drug allegations came shortly after his TOWIE cast mate James 'Lockie' Lock was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and possession of Class A drugs back in April.
James was reprimanded by ITV2 bosses and temporarily suspended from the show, but was allowed back after he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of possession of Class C drug ketamine in court.
Mario has been vocal about his battle with depression in the wake of his split from former co-star Lucy Mecklenburgh in the past.
Last year, he confessed to Now magazine that he had even tried to take his own life with an overdose of 'horrendously strong painkillers' because he 'couldn't stop the negative thoughts' during a low point in their rocky relationship.
In happier times: Mario and Lucy Mecklenburgh seemed blissfully happy at the National Television Awards in 2012
This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read the FAQ at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php#publishers.
